On the swing set behind the garden, strings of flower lights glowed softly as Amanda and Celia sat enjoying the night breeze. Amanda had been wrapped up so tightly in layers by Quentin that she looked more like a human burrito than a party guest.
"Cece," Amanda began hesitantly. "The other night... nothing actually happened between you and my brother, right?"
Celia's face dropped. She kicked her feet, staring at her shoes. "I was so scared that I grabbed a vase and hit him. I nearly cracked his head open."
As Celia spoke, her voice grew smaller and smaller. Amanda listened, a look of mock regret crossing her face as she muttered to herself, "What a pity. Otherwise, you'd be just like me—have a one-night stand and then bring a husband home."
Celia turned and slapped Amanda's hand, scolding her fiercely. "Hey! How could you even think of something so... so 'forbidden'!"
Despite her fierce tone, Celia was clearly flustered, her hands twisted into a tight knot in her lap. Amanda watched her for a moment, realizing her mother's advice was spot on. Celia was still a "big kid" who didn't quite understand the complexities of love, but her affection for Diego was undeniable.
If Diego is going to fall for anyone, Amanda thought, I'd rather it be Celia than a snake like Elena.
Making up her mind, Amanda reached out and draped an arm around her best friend's shoulder. "Cece, this isn't a trivial matter. You two walked out of a hotel room with your clothes disheveled. Even if you swear nothing happened, nobody will believe it. Your family values honor above all else. If this isn't resolved properly, your parents will punish you severely."
Celia's expression grew increasingly gloomy. "Then what should I do? If I tell the truth, I get punished. If I say nothing, they think the worst and I still get punished!"
Even though she was the apple of her parents' eye, the Lugo family was strict. Rules were rules, regardless of who broke them.
Amanda clucked her tongue sympathetically, squeezing Celia's shoulder. "Well, you won't necessarily be punished if there's a good reason. For example... if you marry my brother, your parents won't be nearly as harsh."
Celia stared at her suspiciously. "Why on earth should I marry him?"
"Don't you like him? He's handsome, he's successful... you wouldn't exactly be losing out on the deal," Amanda retorted with a grin.
Celia was momentarily speechless. "I... I mean, what's not to like? But..."
"So you do like him?" Amanda pressed urgently.
Celia began to doubt herself. Since childhood, she had always been the one causing trouble alongside Amanda, primarily because she knew Diego would always be there to protect them. She was used to him giving in to her, used to him naturally taking care of her needs.
Did she like him? He was elegant, gentle, and had never once raised his voice at her. How could she not like him? But was it the kind of love a woman feels for a man? She thought back to the hazy memory of that kiss...
"No, no, no! I don't know! You evil girl, what are you trying to do to me?"
Amanda clicked her tongue as the "brainwashing" plan hit a snag, but she didn't give up. "Look, I'm just giving you an out. You have one solid option: agree to date him for six months. At the end of it, just say you aren't compatible and break up. Your parents can't say a thing then!"
Celia bit her lip, clearly considering the logic. Before she could respond, Amanda spotted a figure approaching in the distance. She hopped off the swing and patted Celia's shoulder.
"Anyway, think about it! I'm going to find my husband. Bye-bye!"
Amanda dashed away before Celia could protest. "Hey! Where are you going?"
"Why are you yelling?" a calm, deep voice asked.
Diego slowly walked into the light. Celia's "tail" immediately dropped, and she suddenly found her shoes very interesting, not daring to meet his eyes.
In the living room, Quentin was enjoying a comfortable tea session with his father-in-law.
"It seems like next year our family might be hosting two weddings instead of one," Quentin remarked with a smile.
Mr. Solis sipped his tea and chuckled. "That depends entirely on whether my son fails his mission tonight or not."
The two men shared a laugh just as Amanda waddled back in and sat beside Quentin. "What are you two talking about that's so funny?"
Quentin immediately pulled her close, tucking her cold hands into his warm palms. "We were just wondering if your brother is capable of finding a wife. Your hands are freezing—have you been outside too long?"
Amanda giggled and mischievously slid her cold hands under his shirt, pressing them against his skin. Quentin inhaled sharply at the sudden chill.
"Are you trying to start the New Year's celebrations a little early tonight?" he asked, his dark eyes flashing with a playful, predatory light.
Amanda shrank back slightly, a blush creeping up her neck. "I... I was wrong." She definitely didn't want to spend the first day of the New Year stuck in bed.
Quentin checked her forehead one last time to confirm the fever was gone. "It's almost midnight. Do you want to set off some fireworks?"
"Fireworks? Yes!" Amanda's eyes lit up, but then she paused. "But... won't the police come knocking on the door for a noise complaint?"
Cough!
Mr. Solis nearly choked on his tea. Why is my daughter so strangely law-abiding all of a sudden?
Quentin looked at her with a mixture of surprise and utter adoration, pinching her cheek. "It's just a few small sparklers, you 'good citizen.' The police aren't going to arrest you on New Year's Eve."
Amanda buried her face in his shoulder, dying of embarrassment. She had seen "fireworks" on the schedule and assumed they were the massive, sky-shattering kind!